Boys: The Wall High School Soccer Dynasty

PHOTO ABOVE: Old and new showed up for the Wall High School Soccer Alumni Game. This game has been played on and off for 30 years. In addition, it was the inaugural Hall of fame induction ceremony which was very well received. Players from all over made the drive and one player, Peter Morris Ambrose, made the trek from Boulder, Colorado. A very good crowd attended the game as the players can never get enough of that hallowed ground, the antiquated field known as the ‘SHOEBOX”.

I recently came in contact with a member of Wall’s vaunted late 70’s and early 80’s soccer dynasty. Over three decades have gone by and he wanted to share his story with me and I suggested he should share it with everyone else, especially people around my age or younger who may not know this history of a string of winning that has not come close to being matched by any team in the Shore Conference or the state. Click below for one man’s account of great days gone by.
From 1961-1964, the Wall High School Soccer Program and the Wall Soccer Club taught fundamental soccer to all those interested. No one could have foreseen how the rest of it would play out. The coach at the time was Harry Baldwin, a skilled player himself from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Harry got people involved and his protégé was Gary Hindley, the first captain of those early Wall High School teams and would later follow Harry at TCNJ. Hindley and Baldwin, both securely placed in Wall’s prestigious Soccer Hall of Fame, had that early link in school as well as club teams. Harry Baldwin went on to become one of only three referees to teach the craft in the highly touted NASL, where players like Pele’, Chingilia, Beckenbauer and Johann Cryuff would end their careers after being the top players in the world. Hindley would become a most capable player at TCNJ and later become Head Coach at TCNJ for 12 years. He would earn entrance into the TCNJ Athletic Hall of Fame as well. In addition, Gary Hindley has been coaching soccer for more than 40 years. Gary has coached on every level from Youth Players to NCAA level soccer to professional soccer. He also gives nationally top rated clinics to all levels. With current Wall head coach Garry Linstra being a TCNJ Graduate and five other Wall Soccer Hall of Fame members being TCNJ folks as well, that connection spans 50 years and is quite secure.

In 1965, a young man out of Rider University and Trenton Catholic High School came to the school with the intention of taking its program to the next level. At the same time, the Wall Soccer Club had its eye on the same goal. Almost all of Wall’s soccer success passed through the Wall Soccer Club early on and then in certain age brackets, the kids simply needed better competition to expand their craft. Most of the kids early on played a game and then refereed a game. Guys like Robert Sutton, Dan Bigley, Phillip Cook and Robert Smalley all had multi-faceted connections with the club in one way or another. These teams flew to Canada, drove endlessly to Virginia, Ohio and just about anywhere there was a soccer field. These were not chic accommodations at all. Nine people to a station wagon, no air conditioning, but we did not care. Bad flights to Canada and you stayed at another family’s home, new kind of food and all. We paid for this on our own, our parents were not in the positions of parents today. We would stand outside for seven or eight hours with a can begging. Later, in high school, we were told never to cut grass the day of a game but if it rained we had no choice but to hide the grass clippings from the coach.

Around 1970, a player named Michael Lyons became Wall’s first dominant player earning first team all state honors. Coach Farley was pleased as the early 70’s were shaping up nicely. The travel teams and the Soccer Club and the addition of an intermediate school 7th and 8th program coached by Robert Sutton finally gave continuity to the program. Mike Lyons would head west and become a star player for Gary Hindley at TCNJ. Of course, Mike Lyons is also in the Wall Soccer Hall of fame. From 1973-1976, the focus went towards winning. Tom Farley and Jim Carhart were quietly being watched. Many of these prior coaches had a hunch great things may be coming.

With the advent of the summer soccer league, playing soccer never stopped. Many players we saw during the year at school we had played summer ball with. Michael Lyons, after TCNJ, became a mainstay with the team (a most capable graduate assistant, if you will). In 1977, Tom Farley and James W. Carhart, saw some things and each brought their unique set of skills to the table and something clicked. No one captured better what was to ensue like our own Tony Graham, who is still at the Asbury Park Press after 40 years. Every player still has their press clippings and most are headed by Tony. 3,000 people at soccer games under the lights, Tony Graham doing live Radio play-by-play and the entire town was around you. If people had plans, they changed them, got to get to the game. Every team wanted Wall statewide, it was simply never easy. We used to say they imported players just to beat us. The pressure never bothered us. Our Coaches really knew what they were doing. Oh, and by the way, they were quietly fierce competitors as well.

Our schedule was murder, we sought out trouble statewide. It must be noted that the Neptunes, St. Roses, Oceans and Raritans were always formidable opponents and never taken lightly. The only thing was that when Wall needed a victory, it always found a way to win one. Six times in a row the Monmouth County Champions. Five straight years the #1 team at the shore (APP). From 1977-1982 Wall won everything, five straight state sectional titles, four outright Group III titles and being ranked #2, #3, #1, #1 in all of New Jersey over a four year span. Our 1977-82 overall record was 133-13-5, solid! Wall beat Kearney five straight times, varsity, jayvee and freshman. Everything received was either taken or earned.

We had two All World Players and two All World Coaches. They are Tom Kain, George Gelnovatch, James Carhart and Thomas Farley. All of their careers are now properly displayed and read as well as any High School Honor Roll. Two high school All American players, one the best college player in the nation at Duke and an Olympian and U.S. National Team Member. The other, the nation’s second best player at the University of Virginia as well the current head soccer coach at the University of Virginia. George was also on the U.S National Team and also an assistant coach on the U.S. World Cup team in 2002. Both players, along with Coach Farley, were selected to the New Jersey All Decade Team. Jim Carhart has won many coaching awards but as a player’s coach, he just had that magic touch.

The list of All Staters is out the door and the accolades were what you would expect, many. But the fact that these records were achieved with no special teams, no trainers, no outside people are why this will forever be special. All these victories, and all these people existed inside the borders of Wall Twp. Four in a row is hard. A unnamed Wall player said, “it doesn’t leave a lot of room for error, good luck”.

Plus all the Shore Conference dominance was remarkable given the respect we had for some of these other fine teams. The conference really never mattered much.

The time will come when records will fall. However, at present the record seems to be pretty safe. No one has really been close 30 years later statewide.

Coach Linstra is our priority (the alums). He has these kids so well skilled and prepared it is just about execution. Wall High School just celebrated its inaugural Soccer Hall of Fame. These records and these teams, coaches and awesome achievers Tom Kain and Gerorge Gelnovatch are a part of a storied state and Shore Conference history and story and that’s fine, but we would give anything to see the same smile on the face of these current Wall players. Wall did it 2004 (winning Group III) so they are no strangers to playing great soccer when it counts.

The real story is many players are still coaching competitive teams. Michael Lyons ended the year as a winning head coach of the Women’s Professional League’s Sky Blue. Point Pleasant’s Christie Rampone was a player coach on this squad. So many players are still soccer nuts, they fly to Europe to see games for fun.

“I think this is why things really worked out for us, we just honestly loved what we were doing” says Carhart. “When you love what you do, the sky is the limit.”

Comments

About Josh Newman

Josh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004, covering a variety of high school beats in addition to college sports and the New York Jets. A 2004 graduate of Springfield College, he is currently the beat reporter for Monmouth University.

TR,
WE WILL ASSUME YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HISTORY IS SIMILIAR TO THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE! ANY PURIST KNOWS TO CHECK THE ROAD BEHIND AND THE ONE AHEAD FOR A REAL LOOK! IF THE QUESTION IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU THAN BOW OUT…WE WON’T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU.

tr wake up…. go to the 1980’s which is what we were discussing. george gelnovatch, tom kain ( plus several other of their us world cup and us national team players ) on and by the way, COACH OF THE DECADE TOM FARLEY….WALL TRY IT AGAIN, CHECK MATE

Don’t even ask me how I came across this article tonight but fun for me to read. While Tom Farley was getting this team up and running he also adopted a little Korean baby girl in 1981: me! Nice to read and it def puts things in perspective – glad he is still remembered 20 years later.

Marc Vitale here—just pls know your dad will never be forgotten!!! Your mom as well!!!! I have family near them and see both of them quite often!! Listen, without perfection but with a heavy heart and solid conscience, your dad is so very important to all of us here in Wall!!

I am not nearly the only one who would go to the wall for your dad and for that matter your mom!
We are always thinking of T. Farley

I’m proud to have been a WHS Soccer player from 1970-73, when winning soccer had it’s roots at
Wall. Tom Farley was my coach, and he I stayed friends until he passed away a number of years ago. Mike Lyons was my teammate, and, I enjoyed playing alongside Mike, as he was our most talented player with the likes of Jose Divino (from Brazil) back in 1971. As I recall, Mike Mansfield (WHS ’71) was our first All Shore player, then Mike and Jose in ’72, and I made it in ’73 when Wall took home the Class “C” title (1st ever) before being eliminated in NJ State Group III Semi-finals.

In 1976, I was elected to the Wall Soccer Club Board of Directors, at a time when soccer in Wall got to be big time. By 1979, we formed the first Men’s League Team to compete in NJ, and in the Winter of 1979-80, I sponsored the first competitive Men’s Indoor League team which took 2nd place
in the BOCA League in Toms River, NJ.

When I think of the hours that were spent playing, coaching and reffing from 1969 on, you have to thank guys like Donn VanDeren, Jim Neff, John Cox, Bob Taylor, Sergio Rey, Sr., Dan Bigley Sr.,
Dan Megill, and Al Natale (who assigned me as a referee), for being as dedicated a bunch of soccer heroes before my time. It was from their lead that I decided to give just as much back in return.

From 1969 until today, Wall Township has certainly made it’s mark on New Jersey soccer.

Even today, soccer is present 365 days a year here at my home in Charlotte, NC. My wife Gerry (WHS ’77) and I work with the USL D2 Charlotte Eagles pro soccer team, and their W-League Lady Eagles club.

We house players every season, as well as having the responsibility for every visiting team and
the referees for every home game. All together, we have been USL/W League Champions three times in ten title matches Our youngest daughter Katie played Club soccer at UNC Chapel Hill, and, my son Richie is currently a NCAA Division I midfielder at Gardner-Webb University today as a sophomore, after winning one (1) National USYSL Championship ,and two (2) NCYSA State Championships as a high school and club soccer player in Charlotte, then a Div II Conference Title finalist in 2008 his freshman year at Wingate University.

So, some 40 years later, I’d have to thank Mike Lyons and Tom Farley for the passion of soccer they instilled in me. And I would love to do it all over again just like it was yesterday.

I guess it didn’t hurt that I grew up in Kearny, NJ, (aka “Soccer Town USA”) either.

Life brings us pleasant surprises when we do not expect ! I have been very fortunate to spend an year as exchange student at Wall High School 1971-72, living with the second most loved family in my life….Leon and Ruth Avakian and my brothers (Peter and Tom). Tonight I struck by chance with this article as I read Rich Wall’s comment with my name as I made a Google search. I will have sweet dreams tonight as I will recall that soccer season, especially the teammates and Mr.Farley. I wish I can come for the next time you have the Alumni game (whe is it ?). I am living in Switzerland right now and I wish I could meet Rich, Mike and all the teammates from 1971-72, when we finished 9-6-1…………a number I never forgot, especially the last home game against Howell…………..4 to 2 to us ! Tom Kain was a young boy at that time and the brother of Tim, my classmate. Shannon, your father was such a human being who taught me much. I can tell you some nice stories about him. I met him some more times after I returned to Brazil and I even went to see the great Wall soccer team play some final games (naturally winning) later. I would love to hear from any one in that team I played or in Wall team later on. If you also have any information for the guys who played for the Pinelanders from Howell ( we went to the National Junior finals 1972 in Trenton) or Pt.Pleasant, please let me know. After I returned to Brasil I declined from getting back to the States with scholarsips to play soccer as well as some proposals to play professional as I wanted to study to be a medical doctor in Brazil. I graduated from medical school in 1978 and have been a doc since then. In Brazil, Sweden (also declined to play professional) and then working for a Health Care company in Belgium, Mexico and Switzerland. I am proud to have played a game for Santos in 1976 and I regret not taking some years off medical studies and played soccer. Anyway, I am proud of Wall High soccer team and of all people. I am 56 years old, one ACL operated, the other one non-operated but I would love to come and play with you all. Rich Wall, you were very qucik and I knew that for fast-breaking you were the target for passing, but today you are my hero, who brought a lot of hapiness in my life because through you I am here. I hope I can get in touch with you and anybody else from Wall !Josh Newman, you too deserve my admiration by the nice article you wrote, which certainly many many hearts……….especially mine who is so far away from Wall and the Shore but who keeps the good memories from my time and games there. Take care everyone and please write me ! Jose Divino, jose.divino@ki.se

Greetings Wall Soocer enthusiasts! I stumbled onto this article after my 17 year old son told me that Wall was 6-0-2 thus far this season. I attended the opener against St. Rose and was impressed with the skill and size of the team, of course a victory 4-1 by Wall! I was flanked at the game by some real impressive veterans, Mike Lyons, Gina Lyons, Bob Sprengel, Bobby Sprengel Jr., Joe Morris, Dan Manson and I also saw Marc Vitale and Coach Carhart. When I was checking this season’s schedule so I could take my 6 year old to watch, I was disappointed to see that there was only 1 night game! That’s too bad, I know budgets are tight, but night games are what Wall Soccer was all about. Shaving our heads, packing the stadium and syching our opponents out with our Leonard Skynard music blasting.

The article brought back so many memories of some of the best times I had as a player at Wall. My mentore was Bob Smalley, who taught me, George, his son Steve and so many of us from around 10-11 years old on the ’65 Warriors traveling team. Bob taught us mental toughness and a winning attitude…we were winners and just assumed we would win. By the time we got to middle school, with Mr. Tracey the shop teacher as our first year coach, we went undefeated in 7th grade (only losing to our own 8th grade team by a extra corner kick), and again in 8th. When we were in 8th grade, the HS team won the first of what would be our 4 straight years of State Championships – Tommy Kain led that team with many other awesome players. In 9th grade, we were again undefeated with coach Duchar at the helm. Because of injuries that year, AD Grayhill recruited George, Steve Smalley and myself to play varsity. My biggest thrill was to be part of a team playing with all the legends and again we won our 2nd State title. Sophmore year, most of the previous year Freshman made varsity, I believe George was a starter with Tommy Kain, talk about dream team! We won the States that year for the 3rd time. Jr. year saw most of the same guys I played with from Bob Smalley’s team, right beside me. We knew each other’s instinct’s so well from playing together so long, Todd Tuefel, Rusty Tinick, Paul Howlick, Dean Critchlow, Chris DePeppe, George Gelnovatch, Butch Gelnovatch, Steve Smalley, John Chafey, etc and we won our 4th Straight State title, what a team. My greatest disapointment was our Sr. year when we lost to Bridgewater Raritan 1-0 in the quarterfinals, when we actually scored on ourselves. It was a terrible game, I remember being redcarded myself for retaliation, what a terrible way to end our legacy and our sr. year.

Anyway, what a run, I later went on to College of NJ myself where the team was not bad, very scrappy, Coach Rick Dell was coaching then. I was not used to sitting bench and became a bit of an “attitude problem” after telling coach that my HS team could beat this team – you never want to do that. My dreams of going pro fizzeled after my Sophmore year since the professional leagues had all folded that year, that was post Cosmos and before the new MLS leagues of today formed. I remember they had professional indoor soccer for a short time and think George actually played there a season before they too folded. Not that I would have ever gone pro coming from a D3 school, but that was always the dream I’m sure of all of us.

Great memories, wishing the 2010 team great success with this season, I’d like to see you guys go all the way.

Hello fellow WHS Alums and enthusiasts!
It’s great to hear that, as of today (10/1/10), Wall HS is 7-0-2. While I have very fond memories of our success at the high school, it all started – as it continues today – at the youth level. The Wall Atoms on which I played were INCREDIBLE (in those days). Yet, my own son (11) is already doing things in game settings that I never dreamed of doing. I’ve been coaching for a number of years, stepped back to assistant to let him hear another coaching voice, and have moved on to coaching my 4-year olds (twins). For as great as it is to recall the “glory days”, let’s make sure we all give back to the game that shaped us in so many ways. Today’s game needs more qualified coaches and good referees. It’s the only way we can close the gap between local championship teams and some day winning the World Cup. All the best. Doug (depepped [at] aol.com)

Hi All,
Mark Reber here from the class of 78. Stumbled onto this while looking for some Girls high school scores. In agreement for all that was said about Coach Farley and Coach Carhart. Mary Shannon, your Mom and Dad were two of the best people I ever met and are missed dearly. Reading this thread surely brought back some great memories with Club ball and School ball. Some great times with Mr. Sutton in grade school and him being my club ball coach. Although we didn’t win the State Championship in my senior year (78) we were the first Wall team to win the Central Jersey Group 3 championship. Who would have thought what was to follow.

I now reside in Brick as I couldn’t afford to by a house in Wall as taxes were to high! (lol) When my kids (daughter and son) were old enough to play rec soccer we signed them up and I coached both of them. Little did I know how much this would change my life. When my daughter was 8 our club asked me to coach a travel team and I accepted. A year later my son says “Daddy, your going to coach my team to – right? How could I say no! I’m now in my 8Th year coaching my daughters team and 7Th year coaching my sons team. My wife is always on my case to try and keep up with the house work but this has become a full time job besides my real job. Everybody keeps telling me “enjoy it because when it’s over you will miss it”. A couple of years ago my Boys team went to the final 8 in the State Cup and is now playing in MAPS and all the top tournaments in the area. My girls team plays in the MAPS division of JAGS and will always have a special place in my heart. Of the 17 girls on the team 14 are from Brick. Keeping these girls together since we started has always been a goal of mine and it seems to have worked. They have worked their way up the ladder with hard work and determination through the years and were rewarded last May by winning the U-15 State Championship. Nine of them are now playing varsity ball as sophomores at their respective High Schools. To say the least I am very proud of them and I’m looking forward to my last couple of years with them.

Hope all is well with all the Wall alumni and look forward to seeing some more comments on this page. Oh yea, in a weird twist of fate guess who is one of my daughters high school coaches? Kevin Farley!

Hey Guys,
I happen to stumble upon this as did my buddy Rick Renna. Those were the years, the memories, under the lights, thousands in the stands, etc etc. Dog fights day in and day out. Yes we had it all, talent, determination, dedication, emotion and experience. Talented teams such as ours do not just happen… they are developed, nurtured and supported. Think about the road trips, the comraderie and sacrifice. Think about our coaches , the time they gave and the sacrifices they made. Coach Farley, Coach Carhart, Coach Duchar, Coach Sutton, Coach Tracey and all our youth league coaches were a part of that developement. Never once do I ever remember anyone of them trying to change our game.They simply allowed us to take ownership and run with it. We were exposed to the game at an early age, at every competitve level. We were taught discipline and expected to be responsible. My father was there for me and my teammates all the time. Our parents were there all the time. Not one parent ever believed their son was bigger than the team. As a parent spend that same time with your own child. My point is this……. every parent, player, coach, teacher and Wall Township community member contributed to that dynasty. As a coach today I show the pictures, tell the stories, use the same plays, teach the same disciplines and the boys I am coaching today are successful. They are winning tournaments and creating memories and friendships that will last a life time. I hope the only team that ever over throws our dynasty comes from Wall high School. Although I do not see it ever happening (ha,ha) Thanks for all the memories. I hope to reconnect with some old teammates. If you are ever on the Outer Banks of Noth Carolina look me up. Oh and a special thanks to Mark Vitale. I do not know the specifics but I know he has been instrumental in the ressurection of our dynasty.

We are currently looking to start and update the school records list so we can further recognize the rich tradition of Wall Soccer. We are looking for records (Wins, losses, ties), goals for in a season, goals against in a season, shut-outs, and where we finished in a division, and what we were ranked at the end of the season (Monmouth County, Shore Conference, Group and State ranking). If anyone can help with this we greatly appreciate it!

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Sherlon ChristieSherlon Christie is a sports reporter at the Asbury Park Press. He joined the APP in the fall of 2004. He grew up in Massachusetts, has a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University's School of Journalism. He is also the secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists.E-mail Sherlon